A new species of tiny goby that lives in tunicates

Lubricogobius tunicatus is a new Indo-Pacific dwarf goby (mature size of about 0.4"/1cm) that lives inside the oral or incurrent siphons of tunicates – just another fascinating symbiosis found on reefs.

Lubricogobius tunicatus

The new goby species most closely resembles another tiny goby, Lubricogobius nanus, that was described in 2015. The new goby's name, tunicatus, is an obvious reference to where these gobies live. Most gobies live on the hard substrate, but some species like Lubricogobius tunicatus have very specialized habitats. For example, another tiny goby, Sueviota bryozophila, lives camouflaged within lacy bryozoan colonies.